Yes. If I haven't worked on a project for awhile, it tends to grow huge in my head and then I procrastinate to avoid it. I have to break it down to a very, very easy step to get back on a roll. Like, opening the scrivener file. That's it. That's all I commit to.
If the writing is not coming to me, it's generally a plot problem I am struggling with. So I'll ask myself questions about the issue, like, 'what would cause satellites to get knocked out?' or 'what reasons might X character for defying a direct order'? And failing all that, I'll ask chat GPT the same questions.
My first book was a non-fiction book, and I learned a particular structure with a professional group I was working with.
Writing my first novel was a whole different kettle of fish. I just started writing scenes in my head. Then I asked myself, "I wonder if there any books out there on how to write a novel" (duh!) and discovered there was A LOT to learn about structure, plot, character, etc. So I immersed myself in craft books and novel writing podcasts.
And then there was the marketing side of things...
My earliest memories of writing are of creating a play with the neighbourhood kids. Nothing was written down, but it was an act of creative expression. The next time I remember writing is a story I did in grade six, called 'The Pirate'. I recall my teacher laughing their head off at it, and I thought, "this was a serious story, why is he laughing'? But then I enjoyed the response, being able to move someone to feel and see something.
My parents kept all of my writing through elementary school and high school and recently gave it to me. There was The Pirate in all its fabulous glory. I recently read it out and posted it on my website and social. Yes, it is hilarious. Such serious angst for an eleven year old!
I judge a book by its first few sentences. They need to be beautiful, evocative, well-crafted. I once put down a book because there was the same adjective repeated three times in one paragraph. That's just inconsiderate writing.
Having said that, I am still learning about how to make prose better, sharper, more evocative.
